A brand new Japanese restaurant has revealed it will be opening its doors on Deansgate Square later this month.
Called Kitten, it will offer diners a one-of-a-kind chef’s table sushi experience – giving sushi enthusiasts a front row seat to all the action.
Bringing modern Japanese fine-dining to the heart of the city, the menu will focus on high-end sushi, sashimi, and robata-grilled dishes, all served in an exceedingly glamorous setting boasting a 5-metre-high Bonsai treet, bamboo walls and elegant Venetian plastering.
The sushi bar will take centre stage at the restaurant, whilst elsewhere a semi open kitchen will give diners the chance to catch dishes being grilled over a massive Robatayak grill.
Visitors will be able to watch Kitten’s chefs prepare dishes from its raw menu, such as black and blue tuna with pickle kohlrabi and squid in tuille, and tuck into an exquisite selection of quality grilled meats.
Due to open in mid-June, this is set to be one of the most visually striking restaurants in the city – with an impressive sounding menu and team to boot.
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The robata menu will feature some of the finest beef cuts, including T-bone steaks, chicken yakitori, duck, pork and lamb dishes.
Fish lovers can, meanwhile, enjoy a whole charcoal-grilled sea bass with ginger, sake steamed clams and seaweed, or tuck into blackened salmon with dashi poached Choi sum, kohlrabi, caviar and split shiso dressing.
As for veggies and vegans, dishes like crisp tofu, wild mushrooms, robata sweetcorn, heritage tomatoes and charcoal-seared aubergine offer some brilliant plant-based alternatives.
Kitten will also house a cocktail bar featuring classic yet inventive combinations enhanced with Japanese influences, crafted by Beverage Manager Tim Herbert – previously of Wood and Co.
All in all, the new venture boasts an enviable line up of hospitality talent – bringing together Head Chef Josh Gabrielides from Ivy Asia and Head Sushi Chef Daniel Zhou from Peter Street Kitchen to lead the kitchen.
As for the wider kitchen team, as a collective they also boast experience from Sticks and Sushi and other top ranked Pan-Asian restaurants around the country.
On the weekends, there will also be live entertainment with a mix of live acts, DJs and entertainment guaranteed to bring the party atmosphere.
Kitten will open daily from midday until 23.30 on weeknights and 00.30 at weekends, serving food and drink throughout, with al fresco dining on the square when the notoriously unpredictable Manchester weather permits.
Feature image – Commons Wikimedia
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Dame Sarah Storey is going on Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Danny Jones
Record-breaking local athlete and Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, is set to become the latest to join the Strictly Come Dancing annals.
With the Strictly cast for 2026 steadily being unveiled, we always keep an eye out for the Greater Manchester names in particular.
That being said, we’re buzzing to see the hugely successful Stockport swimmer turned cyclist will be swapping her Team GB kit for sparkly, sequined ballroom gowns and an entirely different type of sport and fitness.
Announced on Friday, 17 July, Storey is the seventh celebrity to be confirmed for the 24th series of the hit BBC show and dancing competition.
Having represented her country not only at nine Paralympics but across two different disciplines after switching to the racing bike back in 2005, she’s our most decorated competitor in the entire history of the Games with 30 medals to her name – 19 of which are gold.
Absolute GOAT levels.
But now the Cheadle Hulme-born is once again set to show her versatility to see how she fares on the dance floor later this year.
Commenting ahead of the new-look season which starts this September, the 48-year-old said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.
“I have always loved watching Strictly, and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!”
This latest sea-change comes not long after the local legend and sporting icon officially announced her retirement from professional sport more than three decades on from first bursting onto the scene.
Thank you for taking the time to leave all the incredible messages. It’s so wonderful to read them and thank you for being the greatest supporters 🥰
— Dame Sarah Storey (@DameSarahStorey) July 9, 2026
What a career she’s had; it obviously didn’t take her long to get tired of sitting still for once, either.
She will be joined by the likes of Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer and Will Best.
In case you missed it, the upcoming edition of Strictly Come Dancing will be the first since Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and pro dancer Johannes Radebe stepping in as replacements.
In other starring Stockport news, we’ve finally got more info on the final season of a popular programme filmed in the area. Find out more down below.
Two more people arrested as investigation into Dovestone Reservoir moorland fire continues
Emily Sergeant
Two more people have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the devastating moorland fire near Dovestone Reservoir.
Yesterday (16 July 2026), a 19-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of arson and has been bailed pending further police enquiries, before a man in his 20s has today (17 July) been arrested on suspicion of arson, and remains in custody for questioning.
These follow the arrest and subsequent charging of 20-year-old Shania Care-Slede, from Hyde.
Care-Slede has been charged with aggravated arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving, and was remanded in custody before appearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court this past Tuesday (14 July).
After the blaze broke out this past Saturday evening (11 July) at the popular beauty spot in Oldham, prompting a major multi-agency response, fire crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have been working around the clock in challenging conditions to contain the fire and prevent further spread across the moorland.
Specialist wildfire resources, command support units, drone technology, and partner agencies have also been deployed as operations continue across multiple sectors of the incident.
To make matters worse, ‘strong’ winds carried smoke across parts of Greater Manchester – with reports of haze and the smell of burning being received from areas well beyond the immediate vicinity of the fire.
With three major arrests having already now been made, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) says its officers are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry and are seeking to identify any other individuals who may have been involved.
“This investigation has been progressing at pace, we are nearly a week on and the fire at Dovestones is still ongoing, and it has had devastating effects it has had on the Reservoir,” commented Detective Inspector Andrew Day, of GMP’s Oldham division said.
“As this incident continues, officers would like to thank all emergency service partners for their support and dedication.
“In particular, our colleagues at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, whose firefighters have spent countless hours tackling the fire in demanding conditions.”
Georgina Pellant -
31st May 2022 
